Roscommon golf club Roscommon

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Senior Foursomes when they beat Portumna Golf Club by 2½-matches to ½-match on their home course on Sunday 2nd September 2018.

They were out by Sinead Benedetti (2) with Joan O'Gara (12) who halved their match against Susane Corcoran (3) with Anne Fahy (12), in the middle match of Chloe O'Connor  (5) with Ciara Hereward-Ryan (9) had a 4 and 3 win over Claire Callanan (7) with Carmel Cunningham and in the bottom match Ruth Lennon (4) with Mary Lalor (12) had a comfortable 5 and 4 win  over Sinead Lohan (9) with Mary Kelly (14).

They made their way to Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort to participate in the All-Ireland Deciders where they met Ulster Champions Shandon Park Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 27th September and won their match by 2 ½ -matches to ½ -matches against the ladies from the Belfast.

Once again Sinead Benedetti with Joan O'Gara lead out in the top match and had a 3 and 2 win over Jennifer Fawcett with Jaqui Young in the second match Chloe O'Connor with Ciara Hereward-Ryan beat Helen McCarthy with Paula McAtamney by 4 and 3 and the bottom match of Ruth Lennon with Mary Lalor was recorded as a halve against Diane Nickels with Cora Concannon when called in.

They met East Leinster Champions Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club the following day in the national Decider and lost out by 2-matches to 1-match first on the tee was Sinead Benedetti with Joan O'Gara who had a 2-hole win over Carol Wickham with Marita Leech in the middle match Chloe O'Connor with Ciara Hereward-Ryan lost their match on the 20th and the bottom match of Ruth Lennon with Mary Lalor went 3 and 1 against Barbara Cooney with Aimee Wickham.

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club were Runners-Up in the All-Ireland Senior Foursomes at Malone Golf Club on Friday 29th September 2017 when they lost out to Munster Champions Killarney Golf Club by 2-matches by 1-match.
They were led out by Sinead Benedetti & Mary Lalor who lost out to Mary Sheehy with Fidelma O'Connor by 2-holes, in the second match Ruth Lennon with Ciara Hereward-Ryan recorded a 5 and 3 win over Deirdre Prendergast with Ann Moynihan-Rudden and in the bottom Paula Quinn with Rosemary O'Brien went all the way to the 21st before relinquishing the point and the Green Pennant to the Kerry ladies.     
They won the Connaught Final at Balinrobe Golf Club on Sunday 3rd September when they beat Castlebar Golf Club by 2½-matches to ½-match. Then Sinead Benedetti with Ciara Herward-Ryan led them out against Sheila Baynes with Carmel Moran by 2-holes, they were followed by Ruth Lennon with Mary Lalor had a very comfortable 5 and 3 win over Lorna Irwin with Mary-Rose McNulty and the bottom match of Paula Quinn with Rosemary O'Brien was recorded as a halve when called-in against Connie White (9) & Leah Kerr.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield when they beat Strandhill Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches at Claremorris Golf Club on Sunday 12th August 2012.

The team on the day was David Hill with John Walker who had a comfortable 8 and 6 win over Dessie Timbs with Jim Branley in the first match, they were followed by Liam Casey with Lorcan Dowd who beat Chris Kilcullen with Ronnie Conlon by 3 and 2. Next up was Alan Craven with Shane McConn who halved their match against Pat Hickey with David Leonard. The penultimate match of Francis Ferguson with Paul Hoare against Shane Martyn with Gerry Kilbride went to Roscommon by 3 and 1. In the bottom match Enda Daly with Peter Geraghty had an off-day when loosing out to Tristan Probst with David Lindsay by 6 and 5. They were managed by none other than the legendry Ken Kearney.     

They made the long journey to Kinsale Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland deciders on Friday 21st September when they were drawn against Leinster Champions Waterford Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.

They were led by David Hill with John Walker who beat Charlie Ahern with Garrett O’Mahony by 2 and 1, next up was Alan Craven with Shane McConn who lost out to Andy Ryan with Paul Murphy by 3 and 2, they were followed by Liam Casey with Lorcan Dowd who lost their match by the minimum 1-hole against Matt Holohan with Paul Dunne. In the penultimate match of Brian Daly with Peter Geraghty had a 1-hole win over Warren Doyle with Barry Griffin, in the bottom match Paul Hoare with Francis Ferguson had a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Ger Buggy with Gary Dunphy.

They met Ulster Champions Killymoon Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day, Killymoon beat Leinster Champions Waterford Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches.

They were led again by David Hill with John Walker who lost out to B. Bleeks with D. McCabe by 3 and 2, they were followed by Alan Craven with Shane McConn who had a comfortable 3 and 2 win over K. Wilson with R. Montgomery, next up was Liam Casey with Paul McNally who went down by 5 and 4 to J. Bleeks with T. Doonan. In the penultimate match Brian Daly with Peter Geraghty lost out by 2-holes to B. Gogarty with S. Devlin, in the bottom match Paul Hoare with Francis Ferguson won their match against G. Toal with M. Lenny.

The reserves on the team were Enda Daly, Lorcan Dowd, Allan Hill, John Connaughton and Tony McManus, they were captained by Ken Kearney.

It was great to meet Paddy Kearney and his good wife who made the trip to support their club and of course Kens team that almost win their second green pennant which would have matched the county footballers with their Two All-Irelands!!   

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club reached the Quarter-Finals of the All-Ireland Senior Cup Championship at Grange Golf Club on Saturday 17th August 2012,

when they were beaten by Mid Leinster Champions Kilkenny Golf Club by 4½-matches to a ½-match.

They were led by Sinead Benedetti who lost out to the Kilkenny No. 1 Mary Dowling by 6 and 5, she was followed by Anne McCormack who lost her match to Eileen Rose Power by 4 and 3, next up was Mary Seymour who lost out to Mary Leahy-Browne by 3 and 2. In the penultimate match April Timothy halved her match against Orla Dunphy in the bottom match Mary Lalor lost out to Ann Smee by 6 and 5.

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club won their Regional Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2009 and made their way to Mount Wolseley Golf Club in Co. Carlow where they were drawn against Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on Friday 14th August.

They were led by Sinead Benedetti who lost out to Alison Taylor by 3 and 2. She was followed by Mary Seymour against Carol Wickham again the point went to the ladies from Co. Meath by 3 and 1. The middle match of Ann McCormack against Tracy Eakin, say Ann have one-of-those-days when going down by 7 and 6. The bottom two matches of Ruth Lennon against Phil O'Gorman and Ailbhe Farrell against Barbara Cooney were halved when called-in.
Laytown & Bettystown went on to meet Kilkenny Golf Club the following morning in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, with the ladies from the Marble City having a very convincing 4½ to ½ a match and went on to win their first Senior Cup when beating Royal Portrush in a classic All-Ireland Final by 3 matches to 2 matches.

They were lead by Sinead Benedetti who lost out to the Kilkenny No. 1 Mary Dowling by 6 and 5, she was followed by Anne McCormack who lost her match to Eileen Rose Power by 4 and 3, next up was Mary Seymour who lost out to Mary Leahy-Browne by 3 and 2. In the penultimate match April Timothy halved her match against Orla Dunphy in the bottom match Mary Lalor lost out to Ann Smee by 6 and 5.

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club won their Regional Final in the Suzuki Senior Cup and participated in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Milltown Golf Club on Friday 31st August 2007 where they were drawn against Co. Louth Golf Club.

First on the tee was Mary Seymour who had a crushing defeat to Deirdre Smith by 7 and 6, she was followed by Sinead Benedetti who went all the way to the 21st against Maria Dunne before putting the first point on the board for Roscommon. Next up was Ann McCormack who lost out to Jenny Gannon on the 19th. The penultimate match saw Ruth Lennon lose out to Patricia Nannery by 4 and 2. So it was all down to the bottom match of Paula Quinn against Carla Reynolds, this match went all the way to the 23rd before the matches went to the ladies from Baltray with a 3 matches to 2 matches score-line.

Ken Kearney won the Munster Mid Amateur Open Championship at Limerick Golf Club on the 3rd September 2006. Ken returned a score of 138 to beat local man Ger Vaughan by a shot, with John Kavanagh from Castletroy Golf Club four shots back on 142 to take 3rd place.

Roscommon Ladies won the Western District Championship of the Suzuki All-Ireland Senior Cup in 2004 but were beaten by All-Ireland Champions Royal Portrush in the preliminary round at Athlone Golf Club on 3rd September. The team was Deirdre Walsh, Sinead Benedetti, Deirdre Judge, Mary Seymour, Paula Quinn, Ailbhe Farrell and Ann McCormack.

Ruth Lennon and Deirdre Walsh were selected on the Connacht ILGU Team for the Interprovincial's. Played at Ballybunion Golf Club from 18th to 20th August 2004.

Ken Kearney made his return to International Golf when he was selected for the Irish Team in the Home Internationals at Royal St. David's Golf Club Harlech, Wales, from September 11th-13th 2002.

Deirdre Judge and Ruth McGuigan were selected on the Connaught Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial Championships at Mount Wolseley Golf Club from August 7-9 2002.

Ken Kearney won the East of Ireland Championship at Co. Louth for the second time in 2001. Ken set a new record of 283, with rounds of 72, 74, 65 and 72 for the event when he set it up with a new course record 65 on the Monday Mornings round.

Roscommon won the Connaught Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield, when they beat Athenry by 3 matches to 2 matches on their home course. The squad was Tom Grealy Jnr., Gerry Kelly, Kevin Henry, Shane McConn, Tommy Murphy, Noel Farrell, Fergal Kearney, Tommy Grehan, Charlie Farrell, Dave Kearney, Sergio Benedetti, and Mat Farrell. They were captained by Ken Kearney. They went to Newlands for the final but were narrowly beaten by Holywood Golf Club in the National Semi-Final.

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club won the Connaught Shield Team Foursomes in 2001 when they beat Castlebar Golf Club at Ballyhaunis. The team on the day was Ruth MacGuigan with Carmel O'Dowd, Sinead Benedetti with Mary O'Gara, Paula Miley with Catherine Mulryan, Anne Mulry with Paula Keane, Mary Seymour with Teresa Browne and they were, captained by June Holliday and Aileen McConn.

Deirdre Judge was selected on the Connaught Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial's at the Island on the 8th to the 10th August 2001. The team was captained by Helen Sweeney.

Jackie Dempsey, Eddie Keane and Gerry Kelly won the Musgrave's Club Challenge National Final in the Algarve in October 2001.

C. Mulryan qualified for the National Final of the Irish Times-Mitsubishi Motors Women's Masters. She returned 31 points in the semi-final at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club on the 23rd of August 2001. Then it was on to Galway Bay Golf & country Club for the Final on 13th September. She was joined by club-mates B. Poland and P. Keane who both returned 29 points.

Prior to 2001:

Tommy Grealy was elected President of The Golfing Union of Ireland in 1999 a position he filled with distinction.

Roscommon Golf Club won the All-Ireland Pierce Purcell Shield at Tramore G. C. in 1976. The team was John Gilmore with Phelim Henry, Brendan Flanagan with Luke Armstrong, Bill Finn with Denis O'Brien, Peter Casey with Vincent Costello, Tom McNally with Dessie Watts, John O'Shaughnessy with Jack McConway and John Quinn with Tony Robinson they were captained by Louis Finnerty.

Roscommon Golf Club won their first Connacht Final in 1970, when they captured the Bulmers Barton Shield against a fancied Athlone team at Galway Golf Club on the 4th July the historic team was Tom Rogers with Paddy McHale and Des Mahon and Gerry Kelly with Paddy Kearney in reserve and Tom Grealy as Captain. They went down to a star-studded Shandon Park at the National Finals at Royal Portrush.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Barton Shield in 1985 when the defeated Co. Sligo in the final on their home course. The team was, Kevin Henry with Ken Kearney and Phelim Henry with Philip Salter, Peter Mulry was the reserve.

Roscommon won their only Connacht Irish Senior Cup in 1983 and were beaten by Tralee Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Newcastle on 2nd October. The team was Tony Kearney, Phelim Henry, Kevin Henry, Philip Salter, Gerry Kelly, Joe Daly and Tom Grealy.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1978 when they defeated Athenry at Enniscrone and qualified for the National Finals at Galway Golf Club on 22nd September. The team on the day was Paddy Kearney with Aidan O'Shea, J. T. Finn with Des Watts, Victor Costello with Tony Robinson, Paddy McHale with J. B. O'Shea and Peter Casey with Brian McGuinness, with Brendan Merriman, Bernard Kyne, Billy Finn, Frank Pettit, Vincent Kyne and Jack Halliday. They beat Royal Tara by 3 matches to 2 in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and went down to Portstewart by the same margin in the All-Ireland Final.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1985 when they beat Strandhill at Westport Golf Club. The team on the day was Michael Cormican with John Carter, J. T. Finn with David Kearney, Michelle Henry with Noel O'Carroll, Louis O'Doherty with Tony Robinson, Brian McGuinness with John Martin, reserves Gerry Dolan, Jack Halliday and Gerry O'Dowd.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1986 when they beat Ballymote by 4 matches to 1 match at Galway Golf Club. The team on the day was Louis O'Doherty with Terry Robinson, Robert Hession with Gerry Robinson, Paddy Kearney with Dermot O'Kelly, John Carter with Philip O'Grady, John Martin with Brendan Merriman and they were, captained by Kevin Henry.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1983 when they beat Ballinrobe by 3½ matches to 1½ matches at Athlone Golf Club. The team on the day was Phelim Henry with Peter Mulry, Seamus Mulryan, with Michael Connaughton, Ken Kearney with Paraic Brennan, Tom Grealy with Paddy Kearney, Tony Kearney with Pat McHale the reserves were Philip Salter, John McGuigan, Vincent Costello and J. P. O'Kelly they were captained by Noel Farrell.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1986 when they beat Athenry by 4 matches to 1 match at Galway Golf Club. They beat Donabate Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and were narrowly beaten by Castletroy in the National Final. The team on the day was Paraic Brennan with Tommie Murphy, Michael Connaughton and Jimmy O'Kelly, Phelim Henry and David Kearney, Jim O'Brien and Noel Farrell, Terry O'Keeffe with Tom Maxwell, they were captained by Kevin Henry.

Roscommon Golf Club won the Kenny Cup in 1981 when the team was Ken Kearney, Brian Feeley and Peter Mulry they were captained by Tony Kearney.

The Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club won the ILGU Senior Cup Western District in 1999 when they beat Claremorris at Donegal Golf Club team was Paula Connaughton, Anne Marie Mulry, Sinead Benedetti, Deirdre Mahon, June Halliday, Ruth MacGuigan and they were, captained by June Halliday.

They won it in 1996 when they beat Athenry at Galway Golf Club the team was Ailbhe Farrell, June Halliday, Paula Mulry, Ruth MacGuigan, Paula Quinn, Geraldine Relihan and they were captained by Mary McGuigan.

They won it for the second time in 1994 when they beat Co. Sligo at Enniscrone Golf Club the team was June Halliday, Paula Mulry, Mary McGuigan, Paula Quinn, Susanne Quirke and they were jointly captained by June Halliday and Mary MacGuigan They won it for the first time in 1992 when they beat Castlebar at Athlone Golf Club the team was Deirdre Mahon, Anne Marie Mulry, Mary MacGuigan, Ruth MacGuigan, Paula Quinn, Lynn Sweeney and they were captained by Mary MacGuigan.

They won the Ladies Connaught Trophy in 1998, when the team was Deirdre Judge, Paula Pierce, Aileen McConn, Paula Connaughton, Mary MacGuigan, Joan Moran, Catherine Mulryan, Helen Miley, Margaret Kilroy, Marie Benedetti and they were, captained by Bretta McCarthy.

They won it in 1996 when the team was Susanne Quirke, Ruth MacGuigan, Sinead Benedetti, Marie Benedetti. Paula Quinn and Deirdre Mahon. They first won it in 1970 when the team was Maureen O'Connor, Margaret McGarty, Peggy Dolan and Mary MacGuigan.

They won it prior to that in 1994 when they beat Ballinrobe on their home course when the match went to a count-back. The team was Jane Feeley, Aileen McConn, Rita McGuinness, Margaret Kilroy, Marguerite Farrell, Noreen O'Grady, Kathleen Quinn, Ruth MacGuigan, Mary MacGuigan, Ailbhe Farrell, Paula Quinn and they were, captained by Tressina Smyth.

The Ladies won the Connaught Intermediate Cup in 1999 when they beat Galway Bay Golf Club in a close encounter at Claremorris by 3 matches to 2 matches with Sinead McCormack clinching her match on the 19th the team was June Halliday, Geraldine Relihan, Aileen McConn, Catherine Mulryan, Sinead McCormack, Marie Benedetti, Moira Mahon, Mary O'Keeffe, Paula Miley and they were, captained by Paula Mulry.

The Girls were Connaught Winners of the Smurfit Junior Girls in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Mario Costello and Kevin Henry represented Roscommon in the Toyota-sponsored "Golf as Gaeilge" All-Ireland finals at Ceann Sibeal G. C. in September, 2000, having booked their place in the regional final at Athlone G. C.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Eddie Connaughton represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1981 playing 2-matches, won 1-matches halved 1-match accumulating 3-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level in 1981 playing 4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1979 to 1980   playing 8-times won 2-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 5-points;

 

Ken Kearney represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1988 to 2002 playing 68-times won 31-matches halved six and lost 31-matches accumulating 68-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1984 to 1986 playing 20-times won 9-matches and lost 11-matches accumulating 18-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1985 to 2005 playing 72-times won 31-matches halved four and lost 37-matches accumulating 66-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1983 to 1988  playing 22-times won 8-matches halved one and lost 13-matches accumulating 17-points;

Mark MacGuigan represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1986 playing  4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

 

P. Mulry represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1984 to 1985  playing 1-times won 0-match and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

Michael McHale represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial in 1993 playing 6-times won 1-match halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 3-points;

Deirdre Judge was selected on the ILGU Senior B squad in November 2000, she represent Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals at Mullingar, in July, 1999 and also played in the Girls' Home Internationals in 1998. Deirdre is a granddaughter of the late Dr. Donal Keenan, former President of the GAA, and winner of "The two" All-Ireland medals that Roscommon won in 1943 and 1944;

Ailbhe Farrell played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals at Formby Ladies Golf Club in 1996. She was selected to play for Connaught in the Ladies Interprovincial's in 1999;

Ruth MacGuigan was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Junior Championships at Saint Nom La Breteche, France, in 1992;

History of Roscommon

Roscommon Golf Club was founded by a group of eminent people from the locality in 1904 when they played on a tract of 30 acres owned by Clarkes on the Galway Road. The first subscriptions were ten shillings for "Gentlemen" and seven and sixpence for Ladies. In those early years Ladies and Men played in the same competitions.
"During 1924 the club decided to move to its present location when 72 acres were rented from Lord Crofton. One of the reasons for the move was because the clubhouse was burned to the ground on Easter Sunday of that year.

In 1930 Ladies were allowed to vote equally with Men. However in 1941 the G.U.I. instructed the club that this practice was contrary to their rules and the constitution had to be amended accordingly. This situation remained until 1994 when the members agreed that the Ladies should be full members, have equal rights with the Men and full participation in the club’s affairs. Since then a parent committee looks after the administration and financial affairs and the "game of golf" is organised for the Ladies and Men by their respective clubs.

On the 17th May 1995 the clubhouse was completely destroyed by a fire but after a huge effort by the members a new clubhouse was officially opened on the 22nd September 1996. The same day also saw the official opening of the new nine holes to give Roscommon one of the finest parkland courses in the midlands. Over a five-year period these developments cost in excess of one million pounds, a large slice of which was raised by the members. All the neighbouring clubs and others throughout the country contributed generously to the fundraising and to them the members are eternally grateful.